Archive for the ‘For your school-aged child’ Category

As parents, we try to teach our children to share, so of course we want to model it ourselves! We wanted to take a moment today to share that the local blog Sacramento Scoop has a great summary of Earth Day events happening in our area. Click HERE to check it out.

The founders of Art Beast are on the Founding Board of Wonder Tree, a new elementary school opening in Fall 2011 in Midtown Sacramento.Wonder Tree will take a balanced approach to keeping learning magical, meaningful, and full of joyful challenge. We are currently registering children for Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2.

Our MissionWonder Tree School is a community of children, parents, and teachers engaged in student-centered learning that values strong academics, social justice, and the natural world. Students grow to be brave, compassionate, and action oriented, and to think critically and creatively about the world around them. Our educational environment is forged by the dynamic interaction of great teachers, empowered and curious children, and our evolving understanding of how the brain learns best.

Our Approach
Though Wonder Tree does not claim a particular educational philosophy, our design infuses elements of Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Democratic Education, Expeditionary Learning and Humane Education. We embrace project based learning, healthy classroom rhythms, a vibrant school community, academic rigor and daily engagement with the arts, with movement, and with the outdoors. We hope to provide an environment that holds each child as they develop their strength, brilliance, sense of responsibility, and capacity to love.

Want to learn more? Read the complete details at the Wonder Treewebsite. They will hold the first informational meeting on April 27th from 6:00PM to 7:30PM at the planned school location. They can also be reached by phone at 916.760.7349, or by email at admin@wondertreeschool.com. Wonder Tree School also has a Facebook Page with regular updates.

The Wonder Tree School will be located at the Pioneer Church at 2700 L Street just across from Sutter’s Fort.

The East Sacramento-Midtown Kiwanis Club will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast, carnival, and *FREE* community Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday April 23rd at McKinley Park. The Pancake Breakfast will be from 7:30AM until 11:30AM inside the Clunie Clubhouse. The cost for the breakfast is $5 for adults and $3 for children. The carnival games for children are just 50 cents each. The schedule for the Free Easter Egg Hunts is:

For more tickets to the Pancake Breakfast or for more information on Kiwanis click HERE or contact John Brummer at jrbkpltg7@aol.com or 916.642.2505. All funds raised will be donated to various community service organizations and the Kiwanis Family House.

If I had to choose my favorite thing about spring and summer, it would be longer days. BUT, my second favorite thing is without a doubt, baseball. Whether it be the San Francisco Giants, the Sacramento Rivercats, or our neighborhood little league, give me a seat in the bleachers with a hot dog and a beer (iced tea if I’m at a little league game, of course) and I am one happy mama. I can’t wait for my little guy to be old enough to play tee ball. In the meantime, we love it when we can get our fix out at Raley Field! You have plenty of chances to do the same, starting this month.

Mommy and Me Day is coming up on Wednesday, April 20 and again on Wednesday, June 15 from 10AM to 1PM. You and your little ones have a chance to get out on the field and play games, enjoy snacks, and run the bases. My just-over-1-year old and I attended last year and since then the Rivercats have learned a thing or two. Here are a couple of tips to make your experience that much better:

Fill out the waiver before you go. Click HERE to get that. You’ll also need the pre-registration form which you can get HERE.

Bring your own snacks and/or entertainment. There was quite a line to get in last year and people got there early. Even having the waivers completed in advance, there will probably still be a bit of a wait to get into the field.

Don’t expect too much. There were some coloring and game stations, and kids could run around on the field, in the dugouts, and behind the backstop, so that was cool. Dinger will be there, but it would be even cooler if there were some players there though! (Hint, hint, Rivercats.)

If you go, email us some pictures and your thoughts! We love getting feedback to pass on to other moms. Mommy & Me Day is *FREE* and is for children aged 6 and younger.

In addition to Mommy & Me Day, the Rivercats have a host of home games to attend. The Sunday afternoon games are our favorite, but if your kids are up to a weeknight evening, why not spend a few bucks for a grass seat and enjoy the Delta breeze when the nights get warm. Here is the 2011 home game schedule:

There is something new in East Sacramento! Lets all give a big, warm welcome to Elizabeth Ercila, owner of Fancy Feet Dance Academy.

Fancy Feet Dance Academy is open for business, however still under construction. They are holding two grand opening events, one on Saturday April 16th and the other on Saturday, May 14th from 10:00AM to 4:00PM both days. At the ceremony they will be providing cupcakes as well as providing lots of entertainment: including a raffle for Disneyland tickets, balloon twisting and face painting! There will also be a meet and greet with some of the Fancy Feet Parties characters and for the dance academy side of things there will be class demos for Zumba, Baby Music, Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Belly Dance! It’s sure to be an event to remember!

Earth Day isn’t until April 21, but why not make it “Earth Month” and start the celebration with the Sacramento Zoo this weekend? Earth Fest is Saturday, April 2 from 9AM to 4PM you can take part in the following activities and events, along with enjoying the zoo’s inhabitants!

Participants and Exhibitors

Association of Professional Landscape Designers
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Consumnes River Preserve
Friends of the Sacramento Public Library
Friends of San Juan de Oriente
Friends of the Swainson’s HawkGus the Green tree frog, Sacramento Zoo Mascot
Heifer International
IKEA
Mira Loma High School – Arcade Creek Project
Organic Gardening Club of Sacramento County
Recycled Zoo Banner Bags for Sale!
Sacramento County Sierra Club
Sacramento New Technology High School
Sacramento Regional Sanitation District
Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership
Solar Cookers International
Tranquill Gardens
Village Nurseries
WormFancy…More participants to come!

The Sacramento Zoo is located at 3930 West Land Park Drive and for more information click HERE or call 916.808.5888. Admission is *FREE* for children under 2, $7 for ages 2-11, $10.25 for seniors, and $11 for the general public. Remember, members get in *FREE*.

Sunday, April 10, 3PMClassical Concert: William Feasley, GuitarInspired by “John Buck: Iconography,” classical guitarist William Feasley will perform works by American composers Peter Madlem, Robert Beaser, Carlos Jobim, and Thelonius Monk along with the world premiere of “Black Tango” (“Tango Negro”) by the Argentine composer Marcelo Ferraris. Purchase tickets HERE, at the admission desk, or by calling 916.808.1182. $6 members, $12 nonmembers.

This would be a great afternoon activity for a parent and teen! Why not grab a dessert at Ginger Elizabeth afterward and discuss the music?

Thursday, April 14, 5-9PMArt Mix: Lit FixCelebrate Literary Arts Month with a night full of poetry, spoken word, live music, tours, and talks. Don’t miss an open mic session and interactive activities. *FREE* with museum admission. Art Mix is part of the program series Thursdays ‘til 9.

Another good parent-teen activity, this would make for a fun “date night”. Grab dinner Tapa the World before you get your art fix.

Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 11AMWee WednesdayBring your little one and yourself for gallery-based art activities for children ages 3 to 5. *FREE* with museum admission. This is a family program and space is limited. Signup begins at 10AM on the day of the event at the museum admission desk.

SUCH a fun activity for your toddler! Get them exposed to the arts at an early age.

Saturday, April 9, 1PMSunday, April 17, 11AMDrop, Yak, Splat! A Museum Adventure for FamiliesDifferent artworks will provide inspiration for a stimulating gallery experience for families and children of all ages. *FREE* with museum admission.

This would be a great way to start your family Second Saturday fun.

Tuesday, April 12, Noon-2PMHomeschool DayHomeschool and family groups are invited to visit the museum regularly for thematic gallery adventures designed to intrigue children ages six and older. Registration is required. For pricing specifics and registration, click HERE or call 916.808.1182.

Sunday, April 17, 1-3PMOpening Reception: Meaning and Medium – Self-Portraits by Christian Brothers High School StudentsSee the exhibition “Meaning and Medium,” on view April 7 through July 10, 2011, and meet the artists who have explored portraiture through fresh eyes.

Tuesday, April 19, 10:30AMBaby Loves Art – Singing in the RainBaby Loves Art is an entertaining and interactive way for children ages three and under and their caregivers to experience the educational stimulation that the visual arts can provide. Children sing, move, groove, touch, and play at the Crocker while building key cognitive and motor skills. This program is funded by the First 5 Sacramento Commission.

I can’t WAIT to take my 2 year-old to this new program for babies!

If you attend (or have attended in the past) any of the program or special events at the Crocker, we’d love to hear about it and get your thoughts and insight. Email us at eastsacmom{at}gmail{dot}com.

At ArtBeast on Monday, April 4th, older elementary children can come for an exciting event. Visiting Author and Artist-in-the-Schools Danika Dinsmore will lead her IMAGINARY WORLDS WRITERS WORKSHOP from 4PM to 6PM.

The workshop will be followed by a 7PM book reading of her new novel about a fearless fairy: Brigetta of the White Forest. The reading is *FREE*.

Details about the workshop: You’ve been lost in the imaginary worlds created by authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Wouldn’t it be great to make your own imaginary world? A world with its own rules, history, magic and mysteries? Having an imaginary world of your own gives you a jumping off place for an infinite number of stories and adventures. Whether you’re interested in writing your own book or in simply enjoying the creative process, this workshop will give you worldbuilding exercises to complete in workshop and on your own. Workshop designed for children 9 and older.

About the Author: Danika Dinsmore has been working and playing with children in a variety of settings for 18 years. She co-created Washington State’s first youth poetry slam and developed a curriculum guide for teaching poetry in the schools. She also produced the Seattle Poetry Festival’s Emerging Voice spokenword program for teens. She has worked as an artist-in-the-schools for Learning Through the Arts and taught writing courses at Vancouver Film School, Capilano University, and Creative Writing for Children. Her awards include the Washington State Poets Association award for Performance Poetry and the “Best Fresh Voice” Screenwriting Award from the Female Eye Film Festival.

Registration: $15 per child. Please call Art Beast at 916.441.1233 to register or register online by clicking HERE. We recommend registering early to ensure a spot.

The workshop will be followed by a book reading at 7PM of Danika’s novel, Brigitta of the White Forest. The reading will be *FREE* and may be held at Time Tested Books, two blocks from Art Beast.

About the Book: Brigitta is a young Water Faerie. She’s anxious about going through The Change as she doesn’t see how destiny markings on her wings should determine her life’s path. Before the annual Festival of the Elements, Brigitta is flying with her tag‐a‐long sister when a mysterious curse turns everyone in the White Forest to stone, except for the two of them. They have no idea why they were not cursed, but they do know if they don’t turn everyone back in time, the Hourglass of Protection will run out and so will its protective field around the forest. With no one left to help, they must leave the protected realm to seek an exiled faerie they have only heard about in tales.

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